I had the very great pleasure this week of meeting Kimby Tosh a remarkable young women whose life has been changed by national youth volunteering charity ProjectScotland.
Despite ProjectScotland carrying out over 2.2. million hours of volunteering work since its inception in 2005, last year the Scottish Government chose to axe its funding, casting serious doubt on its future.
Bill meets ProjectScotland campaigner Kimby Tosh
Kimby felt this was wrong and decided to petition the Parliament to call on the Scottish Government to reinstate its support for this life changing charity. On Tuesday she appeared before the Petitions Committee, of which I am a member, to put forward her case.
During her inspirational and eloquent contribution Kimby spoke of how ProjectScotland, and her placement at a Blairgowrie youth project, turned her from being a troubled young girl into a confident, well respected member of her local community. Former First Minister Jack McConnell and Murdo Fraser, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, attended the committee to speak in support of Kimby’s campaign.
Over 1200 people have signed up in support of Kimby’s petition and the committee has agreed to back it. Having witnessed the admirable work of the charity in my Glasgow Anniesland constituency at ‘The Hut’ in Temple, I will continue to offer my support to Kimby in her quest to save ProjectScotland.
Bill with Labour colleague Ann McKechin MP
I would like to express my dismay at the decision by First Bus to cut the local No 11 service to reduce, as the company puts it, “the firm’s carbon footprint”.
First Bus has reduced the number of buses on the vital No11 Robroyston to Parkhall, Clydebank, route which travels via the city centre and Anniesland. The company has said the move will reduce the environmental impact on a route which doesn’t carry many passengers but the fact is many local people, particularly the elderly community, rely on this service to travel across the city.
My Labour colleague Ann McKechin MP and I have launched a campaign on behalf of families in Kelvindale. Our petition has been supported by residents angered at bus services cuts. So far over 300 people have signed the petition demanding the cuts be reversed.
I have written to the head of First Glasgow, Mark Savelli, asking him to reconsider the cuts. It is completely unacceptable to cut this local service. The No11 is vital to people in Kelvindale, from older people who depend on it to get into town to local service sector workers coming home late.
To view this story in the Evening Times, please click on the link below:
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2533339.0.0.php
I recently arranged a ‘Walkabout’ along the Blairdardie section of the Forth and Clyde Canal to determine what concerns need to be addressed in that area of my constituency. Accompanying me were representatives from a range of agencies including Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Safety Partnership, Strathyclyde Police, Great Western Tenants’ Partnership, Knightswood Housing Services, Keal Residents’ Association and British Waterways Scotland. Upon completion of our tour in and around the Keal Avenue area of Blairdardie, a range of issues were identified and it was agreed that a number of actions need to be taken. These include:-
- looking at installing lighting at the back of 88 Keal Avenue, lighting in the Keal area, and improving lighting in general along the canal;
- exploring the possibility of improving boundary fencing between GHA housing at Archerhill Terrace, on the south side of the canal, and along the north side of the canal;
- investigating the possibility of commissioning a mural underneath Duntreath Flyover to deter vandalism;
- considering the use of anti-climbing paint at the top of the small ‘Lockups’ within the Keal Avenue area;
- asking the police to recommend that CCTV be introduced on a permanent basis on the Duntreath Flyover to monitor the canal path to its east and west;
- having regular visits to the canal area to dispose of debris which is being left by youths.
The ‘Walkabout’ around Blairdardie generated fruitful discussion and I believe that the suggestions made are achievable. Through working together I believe we can make our communities better and safer places in which to live.
